Junior Pre-K

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While utilizing The Project Approach as  well as certain components of Creative Curriculum, our Junior Pre-K  curriculum is designed to develop verbal skills, reading, writing,  mathematics, phonics, environment and science. Children will use a multitude of multi-sensory experiences throughout the day.

Our  goal is to provide a nurturing environment within which the  developmental need of each child will be met. Readiness skills will be  strengthened prior to the Kindergarten experience. We recognize the  uniqueness of each child. The pace may differ from student to student,  but all children will be guided to develop their thinking process to  their fullest abilities. Our purpose is to enable the children to  continue their enthusiasm to become self-motivated students, eager and  ready to learn.

The curriculum for the Junior  Pre-Kindergarten  class will emphasize pre-reading, pre-math, and early handwriting  skills. We are aligning our program with the New Rochelle School  District and will be using the "Handwriting Without Tears" program.

Walking  field trips will be on a monthly basis to various locations in the  local area that are associated with the unit of study.

All aspects of the Junior Pre-K program is guided by the New York State Prekindergarten Standards for the Common Core.

Each  child's self-esteem is crucial to healthy, intellectual, and social  growth. Successful learning experiences, based on the child's level of  readiness, develop students and help them excel. With our supportive and  nurturing staff, the students experience a variety of academic and age  appropriate challenges within the presented curriculum.

All of  our Junior Pre-K students engage in a rich array of language experiences  that introduce children to reading and writing. We have both structured  and unstructured activities, and use flannel boards, puppets, dramatic  play, and children's literature to develop comprehension skills, visual  and auditory discrimination skills, the use of the written word, and  foster a love of reading.

Reading Readiness

• listen to a wide variety of literature and talk about personal experiences
• demonstrate comprehension by retelling
  
• follow a set of verbal directions to complete a task
  
• use pre-writing strategies such as drawing pictures and dictating stories
  
• develop vocabulary, use appropriate language, and ask questions for information
  
• chime in with rhyming pairs and repeated/predictable phrases
  
• recite poems, songs, chants
  
• names some of the letters of the alphabet and in some cases, both upper and lower case
  
• learns the sounds of the letters of the alphabet
  
• understands how print is organized and read (reading top to bottom, left to right, sweeping back for the next line)
  

Math

In  our Junior Pre- K program, various manipulative materials are used to  develop mathematical thinking, including counting, number and numeral  recognition, and one-to-one correspondence. We use number  and geometric patterning activities such as graphing and charting,  games, and collections to reinforce number skills. Students develop  problem-solving by practicing sorting and classifying objects in the  classroom.

Our Junior Pre-K students:

• Count orally from one to fifteen; identify and write numerals zero to ten in and out of sequence
  
• Start to understand equal to, more than, or less than the other
  
• Recognize geometric shapes and patterns
  
• Sort and classify objects according to selected characteristics, such as by size or ordinal position (first, third...)
  
• Describe concepts of time (morning, evening, yesterday, tomorrow), temperature (hot or cold), and weight (heavier or lighter)
  
• Demonstrate the ability to solve a pictorial representation of simple addition and subtraction problems
  

Science

Awareness  and appreciation of science are developed through a focus on hands-on  investigations. Students observe, predict, sequence, analyze, and apply knowledgethey have learned.

Music

Weekday offers all of our classrooms music once a week with Miss Patti.  Children learn about rhythm, keeping the beat, musical storytelling with puppets and props and will also explore difference genres of music such as classical, opera, jazz  and even reggae. Each student develops a strong sense of musical  self-worth. Activities include listening, singing, and physical response  to the rhythm of music.

Make sure to check out Miss Patti on her website. www.nyartsmart.com

By the end of the year, each Pre-K student should master these SOCIAL/FINE MOTOR SKILLS:

• Cooperate with the children during group lessons or activities
• Develop self-help skills
  
• Work independently
  
• Follow multi-step directions
  
• Hold writing utensils correctly
  
• Use scissors
  
• Perform fine and gross motor movements
  
• Zip, button and unbutton jackets, shirts, etc.
  

Our  Junior Pre-K classrooms will be set up in centers to facilitate better  socialization amongst students. Several activity centers will be  dispersed around the classroom.

• Art Area with paint, watercolors & glue as well as a variety of writing tools and design mediums.
• Dramatic Play Area that changes with the interest of the children
  
• Constructive Play Area with blocks, manipulative toys and structured games
  
• Writing Area for practicing proper pencil grasp and letter formation. 
  
• Reading/Quiet area
  
• Science area with tools that allow for exploration and experimentation.